Man in court over surgery siege

The area around the surgery was blocked off during the siege

A Northamptonshire man accused of kidnapping a family doctor has appeared in court.

Lawrence Richard Melon, 43, is accused of holding Dr John Ahearne against his will at the Weavers Medical Centre, School Lane, Kettering on Tuesday.

The incident lasted about seven hours, and involved police negotiators, before the 53-year-old GP walked from the premises unharmed.

Mr Melon, of Mill Road, Kettering, also faces separate charges of falsely imprisoning another doctor, possessing cannabis and two counts of having a knife as an offensive weapon.

Magistrates in Corby were told that the kidnap and false imprisonment charges had to be heard before a crown court judge.

The case was sent to Northampton Crown Court for a further hearing next Friday.

Mr Melon confirmed his name, date of birth and home address.

He did not enter a plea, no application for bail was made on his behalf and reporting restrictions were not lifted.